Bias cutting machine



July 7, 1953 s. P. PARKER r-:TAL 2,544,522

y BIAS CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 S ffy @MSM clad/Mars ATTORNEYS Jgly 7, 1953 s. P. PARKER Erm. 2,644,522 BIAS CUTTING MACHINE v Filed Aug. 15, 195o 4 sheetssheet 2 l i L I l Q 1 k E f@ l l e j@ I l o l h "W5 l I "4" h Lul lNVE TOR5 func/Q ama BY fue mi July 7, 1953 s. P. PARKER ETAL BIAS CUTTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 15. 1950 July 7, 1953 s. P. PARKER Erm.

BIAS CUTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 7, 1953 IAs CUTTING MACHINE Samuel P. Parker and Roscoe Lee Thompson, La

Grange, Ga., assignors to Callaway Mills Company, La Grange, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Application August 15, 195o, serial No. 179,598

This invention relates to machines for cutting a tubular fabric to produce a strip, in which the Warp and filling yarns are on the'bias, and is concerned more particularly with a novel machine of thekind'referred to, which is adapted to operate on heavy fabrics, such as those used in the manufacture of reinforced rubber belts. The new machine is so constructed that it feeds the fabric tubing to the cutter under close control, so that the strip produced is of a quality kept at all times within close limits.

Machines for cutting a tubular fabric into a strip have been built heretofore and are in regular use in the production :of narrow strips of light fabrics for use, for example, as bias bindings. In such prior machines, the weight and diameter of the fabric tubing are such that the problem of feeding the tubing to the cutter presents little difliculty. Such machines as heretofore constructed are not, however, satisfactory for use in the production of strips from a heavy fabric, such as a chafer fabric for use in tires, hose, belts, etc., which may be woven double in awidth of 50", for example, and is to be cut at an angle of 45 to produce a strip about 70.7 wide with a permissible variation of about 1% in width and 3 in angle. The reason is that vprior available machines do'not include' adequate means for feeding the fabric tube to thel cutter with the regularity and uniformity required to cut so heavy a fabric fand produce a strip within the specifications set lregular tension and is smooth and unwrinkled as l it is cut. The use of these features thus malte possible the production of bias strips, which are of so great width and weight that they cannot be made on prior machines.

For a better understanding of the invention, :reference may be made vto the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 isa view, partly in side elevation and .partly in perspective, of the machine with parts bbm'itted;YV

9 Claims. (Cl. 164-65) Fig. 2 is a view, partly in 'front elevation and partly in vertical section, of they supporting means for the supply roll of tubular fabric;

Fig. 3 is a View in end elevation of the supporting means shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line Il-II of Fig. 9. y

The machine prises a turntable 20 for supporting a supply roll SR of the tubular fabric T with its axis horizontal, the turntable being constructed to rotate the roll on its own axis to feed the tubing therefrom and valso to rotate the roll on a vertical axis to put twist in the tubing being fed. The turntable comprises a base 2| having a vertical passage containing yupper and lower roller bearings 22 separated by a spacer 23 and a tubular shaft 24 is mounted for rotation in the bearings and is provided at its upper end with an integral disc 25 secured to the hollow base of a frame 21. Be-

tween the disc and the base, a sprocket wheel 26 rolls 34, 35, with the spindle 36 of the roll guided in slots inthe vertical end members of frame 21.

-The shafts-of -rolls 34, 35 are mounted in bearing brackets 31 on frame 21 and, at one end, the shafts carry sprocket wheels 38 connected by a chain 39. so that rolls 34, 35 rotate in unison. The shaft Iof roll 35 carries a pinion 40 meshing with an idler pinion 4I, which in turn meshes with a gear 42 on a shaft 43 mounted in bearing blocks 44 within the hollow base of frame 21. Shaft 43 is connected by gearing'45 to a vertical shaft 46, which extends through the tubular shaft 24 and is provided at its lower endwith a worm wheel 41 meshing with a worm 48 on a shaft 49 supported in bearing blocks 5l). Shaft 49 projects out of the base 2| and its exposed end carries a gear 5I connectedl by a chain 52 to a gear 53 on a shaft 54 mounted in a standard 55 and provided with a crank handle'56. When the illustrated in the drawings com- Y a distance equal to twice its uncut width. 'Thisv is accomplished by proper ratio of theA gears 60.

Al, and e2, through which rolls 34, 35 are driven.

Gear 4Q is a change gear replaceable by a gear of a diiferent number of teeth whenever-a change.

is made from one tubular fabric to another of a different width. Gear di is an idler gear fast on a stub shaft adjustably mounted in a curved slot in a bracket 51 attached to one of the en dmembers of frame 21 and the gear may be shifted as required. ,By rotation of crank 55J shaft .46 may be driven .torotate rolls .34, 35 to take up'slack in the fabric at the beginning Aof a cutting Oper-i ation.

The fabric tubing T unwound lfrom roll lSR passes through a slot in a cross-bar at `.the top of frame-21 and is then le'd over a reel EE mounted on a shaft 59 supported in brackets @il attached to the ceiling above the turntable. The reel'is rotated by a suitable connection between its shaft 59 and a vertical shaft 5|, which is connectedthrough a chain 62 to the output shaft 3|] of gear reduction box 3|. -The surface speed ofthe reel is slightly in .excess of the delivery speed of the turntable. so that the length of `fabric between the' supply roll and the reel is kept taut at all times.

From the reel 58, the fabric tubing passes down over a scray 63 and is thence led in telescoping relation over a mandrel `rlill. The mandrel is of generally tubular form witha frusto-conical forward end 65, the bottom .of the mandrel being open through an are of approximately 90. The mandrel is made of `sheet metal and it is supported from within by spokes 66 extending. radially from a plurality of hubs 51 encircling a supporting shaft 68. The shaft projects out the rear end of the mandrel and its rear end rests upon and is secured by suitable means toa standard 69. The shaft is supported on a-second standard 1U forwardof standard 69 and is held in place on standardk 1G by a `clamping element 1|. The weight of the shaft forward of standard 1G .is supported by a pair of tie rods.12, each of which contains a turn-buckle 13 and is attached at its rear end to a -Xtu-re 14 carried by standard 59. TheA tie rods pass over Yarms -15 projecting outwardly from shaft 6.8 and their forwardends are secured to a collar 16 mounted on the forward end of the shaft. I

In its travel over the mandrel, the tube T is kept taut by a tension bar- 11, which extends `lengthwise of the mandrel and is mounted on the lower ends of vertical rods 18; each of which extends through a linear ball bushing 19 mounted in an opening through shaft G8 and a similar bushing Sein a bracket 8| extending downward from the shaft. Each rod 18 is formed with rack teeth 32 .between its -ends and the -teeth on the rods mesh with respective pinions 8S ,on a shaft 84 mounted in bearingsin` brackets 8| and on the fixture 14.Y Outside the mandrel, shaft 84 carries a pulley 85 to which is attached the upper end of a strap 86 carrying a weight 81 at its low-er end. The weight tends to rotate shaft 84 to move .on a standard I1.

4 rods 18 downwardly and this causes the tension bar to bear through the opening in the mandrel against the inner surface of the fabric tubing and maintain the fab lc tubing taut.

A pair of shafts 33, 89, extending lengthwise of the mandrel on opposite sides thereof, are mounted for rotation in bearing blocks secured to the inner surface of the mandrel,y and the shafts are provided near their rear ends with gears connected by a chain 9d to a gear on a Shaft 9| carries a gear S2 meshing with aggear 93 on a shaft 94 mounted in bearing blocks on standards 59,13 and provided with a gear connected vby chain 95 to a gear on a shaft .S5 carrying a double pulley S1 driven by a pair of belteSB. Shaft 88 is connected through a coupling 99 to the shaft of a roller itil mounted on the inner surface of the mandrel for rotation on an axis at 45 to the axis of the mandrel. The roller |89 projects through an opening in the mandrel `and bears against the inner surface ofV the tubing' vT. A roller Nil is mounted with its axis parallel to the axis of roller Hlil in an arm |82 pivoted to a bracket 33 secured to the floor, the arm being acted on by a spring |524 to cause roller ici to clamp the tubing T against the xed roller it. Forward of roller li are two similar skewed rollers W5, te engaged by associated rollers similar to roller l] I. .The shaft of roller lil is connected by a chain lill to the shaft of roller |95 and that shaft is connected by a chain |798 to the shaft of roller ilS. At the opposite side of the mandrel are three pairs of skewed driving rollers similar to rollers itt, lili and rotation of shafts 38 and SS causes the skewed rollers within the mandrel to be rotated to advance the tubeV T of fabric over the mandrel along a helical path.

A blower W9 driven by a motor l le is mounted beyond the rear end of the mandrel and supplies an air blast, which travels through a pipe l i l supported on brackets Si and extendingthrough the mandrel and into the frusto-conical end 65 there-s of. At its forwardl end, the pipe l li carries a nozzle i l2 containing a centralrcone H3 and a plurality of venes lit between the outer surface of the cone andfthe inner surface of the outer casingiof the nozzle. The Vanes are so arranged that the blast issuing `from the nozzle whirls in the same rotational direction as the tube T of fabric being moved over the mandrel. The blast opens up the fabric tube between the end of the mandrel and the scray 63, so that the tube is about full size as it reaches the mandrel, and, because of its whirling movement, the blast acts on the tube and facilitates its helical travel over the mandrel. e

The fabric tube advancing along the mandrel is -cut at a 45 angle by a disc cutter blade ||5 mounted on the shaft of a motor ||G supported In order to remove wrinkles from the material approaching the cutter and from the stripS produced by the cutting operation, the mandrel is provided on its outer surface with a rib I8 extending helically about the mandrel from' one edge to the other in a number of convolutions along the path of travel of tubing T and of strip S. The rib may be conveniently formed of a length of tubingv about 5/8 in diameter secured to the outer surface of the mandrel.

The strip S produced from tube T by the cutting operation is led from the mandrel at a 45 angle to the axis thereof and passes beneath a pair of suitably mountedskewed guide rolls IIS to maintain it to full width. From the spreader Yrolls |26, |21.

analiza rolls, the strip passes over the cloth r'e'st |20, beyond which is a rotary shearing. reel I2| `cooperating with a ledger blade .|22 to remove loose threads, excess lint, etc. fromV the upper surface ofthe strip, the reel being enclosed within a casing |23 provided with a suction duct |2.V Beyond the ledger blade, the under surface of the fabric is brushed by a driven rotary brush |25. The strip is drawn from the mandrel by a pair of rolls |26, |21 gripping the strip on opposite faces. lThe lower roll |26 is mounted for rotation in bearing blocks on a support |28 and it is connected by a belt |29 to a pulley on the output shaft of a gear reduction box |33 driven through belt |3| by a motor |32. Roll |21 is mounted in bearing blocks on levers |33 pivoted on frame |28 and acted on by springs v|34 to force roll |21 toward roll |26, so that the strip T is'tightly gripped by the rolls. y -The strip leaving the rolls |26, |21 is held tautby skewed guide vrolls |35, similar to rolls i9, and is then wound on an arbor |36, the ends of which are guided in vertical slots in end members |31 of a support icarrying the gear reduction vbox i3!! andv motor 1R32. The strip is woundinto a roll WR, which rests upon and is rotated by rolls |39, |40.' The shafts of the rolls are mounted for rotation on support |38 and are connected by a chain |i| to rotate in unison. The shaft or roll le!) is connected by a chain V|l|2 Ato the shaft of roll |26 and the shaft of the rotary Shearer reel |2| is similarly connected by a chain |43 to the shaft of' roll |26.' The shaft of roll |48 carries a doublepulley |44, about which belts 98 are trained,v the belts being guided by one turn of twist for each length of tubing fed f equal to twice the uncut width of the tubing laid flat. As the tubing leaves the supply roll, it is drawn taut by the action of reel 58 and thenV passesV down the scray, at the bottom of which the tubing is opened up by the whirling air blast issuing from nozzle H2. The tubing is then advanced over the mandrel along a helical path partly by the action of the skewed rollers and partly by the pull on the strip S applied by the The surface speeds of rolls |25, |21 and |39, |43 and of the vskewed rollers are correlated to the rotation of the supply roll SR ribl for removing wrinkles, the skewed guiding rolls, and the takeup and winding rolls, vhas provedhighly effective in feeding the tubing at a uniform rate to the cutter. As a result, it has been possible on vthe new machine to cut heavy chafer fabric of an uncut width of 50" with as little variation in the strip as 1% in width and 3 in longitudinal angle.

We claim:

1.l In amachine for cutting a tubular fabric Yon the bias to form a strip and having a man-` drel, over which the fabric is to be led in telescoped relation to the mandrel, and a knife cutting in a plane at an angle to the axis of the mandrel, the combination of a support for holding a roll of the fabric with its axis horizontal, the support being rotatable on a vertical axis and including a rotary element engaging the roll and rotatable to rotate the roll to unwind it, a rotary guide for the fabric tube unwound from the roll, the guide being mounted for rotation on a stationary axis at a higher level than the supported roll, pairs of rollers adapted to move the fabric tube over the mandrel along a helical path, one roller of each pair being mounted within the mandrel toengage the inner surface of the tube and the other roller of the pair being mounted outside the mandrel to engage the outer surface of the tube and press the tube against the inner roller, means for drawingv the strip from the mandrel, means for rotating the support and the rotary element in timed relation to each other, means for driving at least one roller of each pair and the strip drawing means at the saine surface speed, said speed bearing a constant relation to the rate at which the fabric is unwound from the fabric roll by the rotary element, means for directing an air blast into the tube, as it approaches the mandrel, to inflate the tube, and means for rotating the guide at a surface l speed higher vthan the speed of. the tube being unwound from the roll.

In a machine for cutting a tubular fabric on the bias to form a strip, the combination of a support for a roll of the fabric, the support ybeing rotatable on a vertical axis and includby rolls 34, 35, in such manner that the fabric y Y tubing moves smoothly along the mandrel and.

the strip is taken therefrom and wound at the proper rate. The use of the reel 58'makes it possible to maintain the tubing taut between the reel and the supply roll and, at the same time,

, permits a slight accumulation of the tubing at the bottom of the scray. As the tubing leaves the scray and approaches the mandrel, it is fully inated by the blast, theA whirling of which helps to maintain the rotational movement of the tubing. -Thef tubing is kept taut against the mandrel lby the tension ba'r and wrinkles are removed by the rib on the mandrel. As the strip leaves the mandrel, it is maintained at fullV width by the skewed guide rolls and loose threads, ex-l ing a rotary element engaging the roll and rotatable to rotate the roll to unwind a rotary guide mounted for rotating on a stationary axis at a higher level than the supported roll and over which the fabric from the roll passes, a mandrel, over which the tube of fabric is guided in telescoped relation thereto, a knife for cutting thefabric, as it travels over the mandrel, at an angle to the axis of the mandrel to produce a strip, means for advancing the tube of fabric over the mandrel along a helical path drawing the strip from the mandrel, said means including rollers inside and outside the mandrel for engaging the tubeat the same angle to the axis of the mandrel as the cut and rolls gripping the strip, means carried by the mandrel for directing an air blast into the tube, as it approaches the mandrel, to innate the tube means for rotating the guide at a surface speed higher than the speed of the tube being unwound from the roll, means for rotating the support and the rotary element in timed relation tol each other, and means for rotating the rollers and strip gripping rolls, at the same surface speed, said speed bearing a constant relation to the rate at whichY the fabric is unwound from the fabric roll by the rotary element.

3. In -a ,machine for cutting a tubular fabric on the bias to forni a strip and having a mandrel, over which the fabric is to be led in telescoped relation to the mandrel, a knife cutting in a plane at an angle to the axis of the mandrel, and means for drawing the strip from the mandrel, the combination of a support for holding a roll of the fabric with its axis horizontal, the support being rotatable on a vertical axis and including a rotary element engaging the roll and rotatable to rotate the roll to unwind it, a rotary guide mounted for rotation on a stationary axis at a higher level than the supported roll and over which the fabric tube from the roll passes, pairs of rollers adapted to move the fabric tube over the mandrel along a helical path, one roller of each pair being mounted within the mandrel to engage the inner surface of the tube and the other roller of the pair being mounted outside the mandrel to engage the outer surface of the tube, means for rotating the support and the rotary element in timed relation to each other, means for driving at least one roller of each pair at a surface speed bearing a constant relation to the rate at which the fabric is unwound from the fabric roll by the rotary element, means, including a nozzle with vanes for directing an air blast into the tube, as it approaches lthe mandrel, to inflate the tube, said Vanes causing the blast issuing from the nozzle to whirl the blast in the same rotational direction as the tube traveling along the mandrel, and means for rotating the guide.

4. A machine for cutting a tubular fabric on the bias to form a strip, which comprises a support for holding a roll of the fabric with its axis horizontal, the support being rotatable on a vertical axis and including a rotaryA element engaging the roll and rotatable to rotate the roll to unwind it, a rotary guide for the fabric tube unwound from the roll, the guide lying at a higher level than the supported roll, a hollow mandrel, over which the fabric tube is to be led in telescoped relation to the mandrel, pairs of rollers adapted to move the fabric tube over the mandrel along a helical path, one roller of each pair being mounted within the mandrel to engage the inner surface of the tube the other roller of the pair being mounted outside the mandrel to engage the outer surface of the tube and press the tube against the inner roller, a knife for cutting the fabric, as it travels over the mandrel, at an angle to the axis of the mandrel to produce a strip, means for drawing the strip from the mandrel, a rib on the outer surface of the mandrel for engaging the inner surface of the fabric tube, the rib extending helically and along the path of travel of the tube, means for directing an air blast into the tube, as it approaches the mandrel, to inflate the tube, means for rotating the support and the rotary element in timed relation to each other, and means for driving at least one roller of each pair and the strip drawing means at the same'surface speed, said speed bearing a constant relation to the speed at which the fabric is unwound from the fabric roll by the rotary element.

5, A machine for cutting a tubular fabric on the bias to form a strip, which comprises a support for holding a roll of the fabric with its axis horizontal, the support being rotatable on a vertical axis and including a rotary element engaging the roll and rotatable to r- 8 Y tate thel roll to` unwind it, a rotary guide for the fabric tube unwound from the roll, the guide lying at a higher level than'the supported roll, a hollow mandrel, over which the fabric tube is to be led in telescoped relation tc the mandrel, means carried by the mandrel for engaging the tube from Within and placing it under tension transversely, pairs of rollers adapted to move the fabric tube over the mandrel along a helical path, one roller of. each pair being mounted within the mandrel to engage the inner surface of the tube and the other roller of the pair being mounted outside the mandrel to engage the outer surface of the tube and press the tube against the inner roller, a knife for cutting the fabric, as it travels over the mandrel, at an an-r gle to the axis of the mandrel to produce a strip, means for drawing the strip from the mandrel, a rib on the outer surface of the mandrei for engaging the inner surface of the fabric tube, the rib extending helically and along the path of travel of the tube, means for directing an air blast into the tube, as it approaches the mandrel, to inflate the tube, means for rotating the support and the rotary element in timed relation to each other, and means for driving the inner roller of each pair and the strip drawing means at the same surface speed, said speed bearing a constant relation to the speed at which the fabric is unwound from the fabric roll by the rotary element.

in a machinev for cutting Va tube of fabric on the bias to form a strip and having a mandrel, over which the tube is telescoped, and a knife cutting in a plane at an angle to the axis of the mandrel, the combination of a support for holding a roll of the fabric with its axis horizontal and including a frame rotatable on a vertical axis and at least one roll mounted for rotation in the frame and adapted to engage and support the fabric roll, the supporting roll being rotatable to unwind the fabric roll, a rotary guide, over which the tube unwound from the fabric roll passes, the guide being mounted for rotation on a stationary axis higher than the support, pairs of rollers for moving the fabric tube over the mandrel along a helical path, one roller of each pair being mounted within the mandrel to engage the inner surface of the tube and the other roller of the pair being mounted outside the mandrel to engage the outer surface of the tube and press the tube against the inner roller, means for drawing the strip from the mandrel, means for directing a blast of air into the tube, as it approaches the mandrel, to innate the tube, means for driving at least one roller cf each pair and the strip drawing means at the same surface speed, means for rotating the guide at a surface speed higher than the speed of the tube being unwound, and means for rotating the frame and the supporting roll in timed relation, to each other, the surface speed of the supporting roll bearing a constant relation to the surface speed of the rollers and strip drawing means.

7. In a machine for cutting a tube of fabric on the bias to form a strip and having a mandrel, over which the tube is telescoped, and a knife cutting in a plane at an angle to the axis of the mandrel, the combination of a support for holding a roll of the fabric with its axis horizontal and including a frame rotatable on a vertical axis and at least one roll mounted for rotation in the frame and adapted to engage and support the fabric roll, the supporting roll being rotatable to unwind the fabric roll, a rotary guide, over which the tube unwound from the fabric roll passes, the guidebeing mounted for rotation on a stationary axis higher than the support,V pairs of rollers' for moving the fabric tube over the mandrel along a helical path, one roller of each pair being mounted Within the mandrel to engage the inner surface of the tube and the other roller of the pair being mounted outside the c mandrel to engage the outer surface of the tube and press the tube against the inner roller, a pair of rolls for gripping the strip between them and rotatable to draw the strip from the mandrel, means for directing a blast of air into the tube, as it approaches the mandrel, to inflate Ythe tube, a scray guiding the fabric between the rotary guide and the mandrel, means for rotating said guide, means Vfor rotating the strip` gripping rolls and at least one roller of each pair at the same surface speed, and means for rotating' the frame and supporting roll in timed relation, the surface speed of the supporting roll bearing a constant relation to the 4surface speed of the rollers and'gripping rolls.

8. In a machiney for cutting a tubular fabric on vthe bias to form a strip, the combination of a support for holding a supply roll of the fabric, the support including a frame rotatable on a vertical axis and at least one roll mounted in the frame and adapted to engage and support the supply roll, a rotary guide for the tube unwound from `the supply roll, the Yguidefbeing at a higher level than the support, a scrayk for guiding the tube leaving the rotary guide, a hor. izontal mandrel, means for advancing the tube over the mandrel in .telescoped relation thereto along a helical path, said advancing means including pairs of, rollers adapted tov engage the inside and outside of the tube and grip'it bestrip drawing means at the same surface speed, said speed bearing aconstant relation to the rate of rotation of thewsupporting roll, and means for rotating the frame ata rate timed lto the unwinding of the fabric supply roll by the Ysupporting roll.

9. A machine for cutting a tubular fabric on the bias to form a strip, which comprises the combination of a support for holding a roll of fabric with its axis horizontal, the support being rotatable on a vertical axis and including a rotary element engaging the fabric roll and rotatable to rotate the fabric roll to unwind the fabric tube therefrom, a rotary guide for the fabric tube unwound from the roll, the guide being mounted for rotation on a stationary axis tween them, ar rib on the outer surface of said mandrel extending along said helical path, means forv drawing the strip from the mandrel, means for directing a blast of air into the tube,

as it approaches the mandrel, for inlating the 4 tube between themandrel and the scray, means for rotating the supporting roll to unwind the fabric tube from the supply roll, means for rotating the advancing rollers and operating the at a higher level than the supported roll, a

mandrel, over which the tube of fabric is guided in telescoped relation thereto, a knife for cutting the fabric traveling over the mandrel at an angle to the axis of the mandrel to produce a strip, pairs of rollers inside and outside theV mandrel for engaging Athe tube of fabric at the same angle to the axis of the mandrel as the cut and operable to advance the fabric, means vvcarried by the mandrel for directing an air blast into the fabric tube, as it approaches the v'ma-ndreLto inflate the tube, a scray directing' the fabric from the rotary guide to the inflating means, means for taking up the strip formed bythe cut, `means for rotating the support and the rotary element in timed relation to each other, means lfor rotating the guide, and means for rotating one advancing roller of each pair and the takeup means atv the same surface speed, said speed bearing a constant relation to the speed atA which the fabric tube yis unwound from its roll by the rotary element.

sAi/lUEL'V P. PARKER. RosCoE LEE THOMPSON.

v References cited in the nie of this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 1,066,304 Mitchell et al. July 1J ,1913 `1,322,843 Townsend Nov. 25, 1919 1,643,157 Gardner Sept. 20, 1927 1,896,596 Seddon Feb. 7, 1933 

